This Sunday, the world of professional bicycle racing descends on the French city of Compiegne for the annual Paris - Roubaix bike race.  It is a 254 kilometer race that covers mostly flat road through the farm lands of Northern France.  It is one of the oldest races held in the world.  What make the Paris - Roubaix race so challenging is that parts of the race are ridden over 200 year old cobblestone roads that are not used by motor vehicles any longer. They are used only by farm tractors these days.  Those roads are what give the race its character.  It takes a special type of racer to do well in this race.  One that is very familiar with pain.  Pain that is served out for 6 plus hours.  The sheer body shattering that is experienced by these racers is best described as "flu-like symptoms for days'' after they've finished the race.  It leaves their bodies sore for at least a week.  To win this race is viewed as a super human feat.
I will wake up early Sunday morning to watch the live streaming of the "Hell of the North."  There will be so many dramas that will occur before the winner rides in to the velodrome in Roubaix.  I will watch it with great interest.  Much like most people watch the Super Bowl.
Here's a short film on the romantic view of the race and its participants.